Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
Originally posted by Black Globe Generator:[qb] ...
That being said, I like the MT's idea of homeworld default skills. A PCs life before age 18 should account for something.
Have fun,
Bill
A friend I have lost contact with once did a pre-18 workup for something like the Boy/Girl scouts. You earned merit badges in a group of things that added up to give you 0 level skills. You could then earn more badges to boost that skill to level 1 or even 2 in some skills. He based the system on the number of badges scouts are required to earn their ranks (maximum badges you could earn was based on what it takes to earn the Eagle Scout ranking). Skills you could learn were generally like survival or accademic things. You could get computer or electronics, but not specalized or combat related skills. Vehicle and environment related skills that apply to your homeworld were also possible to level 2. If you wanted 0 level skills, you could get maybe 8 to 10 if you spent 2 terms in scouting from age 10 to 18. Level 1 and 2 skills were much more "merit badge intensive" and you might get 1 or 2 level 2 skills along with 2 or 3 level 1 skills in the same time.
We did some playing around with it and what seemed to work best was to use it to get say computer, mechanical, or electronics at 1 or 2 then to use the rest to pick up some 0 level vehicle and/or survival skills.
I also likes the first version of Twightlight 2000 where you got 300 points to spend on background skills. It used % skill levels and each point bought 1% of a skill up to 50%. Then it cost 2 points per 1% increase. Say you have 10 background points. 1 point buys a 0 level skill, 2 points buys a level 1 skill, and 4 points buys a level 2 skill. You could get 2 level 2 skills and 1 level 1 skills at one end of the spectrum or 10 level 0 skills at the other end.
Try those 2 methods for back ground skills.
